Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ~Matthew 5:4 ESV

When was the last time you mourned over someone or something? Or found that joy comes in the mourning?

Some days, my heart is heavy over the things I see in this world: in politics, in the church, in our country. I have mourned over the death of family members and pets and the loss of relationships.

Sometimes, as I mourned, I felt Jesus mourning with me. But at other times, I felt alone and unable to find peace or comfort. That didn’t mean Jesus wasn’t there. In a few friendships, Jesus just let me cry it out until no more tears fell, then told me to let them go.

We may always expect to be comforted if we view this verse from the perspective of mourning or grieving a loss. After all, Jesus promised comfort to the mourners.

Blessed are means, “O the blessedness of,” “the gladness of,” or we could say “happiness is.” If we combine “Happiness is” with the phrase “those who mourn,” it doesn’t really make sense. Did Jesus really tell us that it is a blessed or a happy thing to mourn? How can we be happy while we are grieving?

Mourning is not exactly what I find happiness in. However, the type of mourning Jesus refers to is the kind of mourning we do over our sin. That’s the mourning God wants to hear and see. When we come to Him with remorse and repent for our lost tempers, unkind words, lies, or attitudes–among many other things–He forgives us and then comforts us. He doesn’t hold our sin against us, send us on a guilt trip, or condemn us.

I believe genuine remorse over our sin is a song in the Lord’s ears. Why? Because He can now bury that sin in the deepest sea or as far as the east is from the west. He will never have to look at it again.

Jesus’ blood is the reason He can do that. One precious death for a myriad of sinners.

Weeping may last through the night,  but joy comes with the morning. ~Psalm 30:5 NLT

I can also see a bit of play on words in this verse. Joy comes with or in the mourning.

Repentance is a gift. True repentance starts with understanding our position as beggars (poor in spirit) in total dependence on God’s grace and mercy.

If you have experienced a burden of sin lifted by God’s forgiveness, then you know the joy that comes next and the amazing gift you have been given. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the mourning.

Experience the joy that follows repentance.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation. Help me understand the gift of repentance You gave—how it is truly a gift. Thank You for the promise of comfort. You are a good and holy Father. Thank You for all Your blessings. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Genre: Bible Study

Copyright 2021: Joy Comes in the Mourning: Stephanie Pavlantos: All Rights Reserved